Electrodeposited Ni-Mo coatings as electrocatalytic materials for green hydrogen production.

In this work, nanocrystalline nickel and nickel-molybdenum alloys were electrodeposited from electrolytes based on deep eutectic solvents. Eutectic mixtures of choline chloride with ethylene glycol (ethaline) and urea (reline) were used as typical representatives of deep eutectic solvents. The deposited Ni and Ni-Mo films were evaluated as potential electrocatalytic materials for green hydrogen production via electrolysis of alkaline aqueous solutions. The electrodeposited samples were characterized by XRD, SEM and EDX techniques, and the electrochemical behavior was evaluated by means of linear voltammetry and Tafel analysis. It was shown that the deposition of nickel (without molybdenum) from the electrolytes based on ethaline provides a higher electrocatalytic activity of the material with respect to the hydrogen evolution reaction than the material deposited from the reline-based electrolytes. The reline-based plating electrolytes contribute to a greater inclusion of molybdenum in the fabricated Ni-Mo alloys and therefore ensure increased electrocatalytic activity as compared with the ethaline-based electrolytes. The electrocatalytic behavior well correlates with the molybdenum content in the coatings. Ni and Ni-Mo electrodeposits produced from the deep eutectic solvent-mediated plating baths exhibit improved electrocatalytic performance and can be considered as promising catalytic materials for water electrolysis in green hydrogen energy.

Experimental substantiation of the use of hydroxyapatite - tricalcium phosphate bioceramics for replacing bone defects after tumor removal.

BACKGROUND: Recently, bioactive ceramics based on hydroxyapatite (HAP) and tricalcium phosphate (TCP) have been preferred as implants in bone engineering. AIM: To study bone regeneration under conditions of filling metaphyseal defects with the original HAP-TCP composition. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The experiment was carried out on inbred rats, the observation period was 2, 4, 8 weeks. Morphological studies were carried out using light and electron microscopy. RESULTS: In the dynamics of observation at 2, 4 and 8 weeks, a gradual arrangement of osteoclasts and osteoblasts on the surface of HAP-TCP was recorded, which indicates its high biocompatibility with bone tissue. During the experiment, the processes of resorption of implants, mineralization, proliferation of cellular elements of collagen and osteogenesis (osteoblasts and osteoclasts) and the formation of mature bone tissue were recorded. CONCLUSIONS: Experimental studies of plastic bone defects proved the presence of the osteoinductive and osteointegrative effect of HAP-TCP composition, which contributes to a more dynamic uncomplicated course of reparative osteogenesis.

[EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF THE STRENGTH AND MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BONE-FIXATOR SYSTEM WHEN THE IMPLANT SURFACE IS SPRAYED WITH A MATERIAL BASED ON BIOACTIVE GLASS, HYDROXYAPATITE].

The aim of the work is to compare the effect on the strength of bone tissue of spraying ceramic materials on the surface of titanium-nickel plates and pins and to show the results of electron microscopic examination of bone micropreparations at the site of immersion of the implant. Preparations of rat tibia after metal osteosynthesis with intramedullary titanium-nickel pins and titanium-nickel bone plates with spraying on their surface material based on bioactive glass, hydroxyapatite and pins and plates without spraying were investigated. Using a device based on a strain gauge and a caliper with digital display recorded load-deformation diagrams during compression of the test sample, as well as perform bone sampling at the site of immersion of the implant and determine morphological changes in bone using an electron microscope. The greatest strength was observed when using a titanium-nickel pin sprayed with biocomposite, titanium-nickel plate sprayed with biocomposite, hydroxyapatite doped with silver (8 weeks after surgery). The lowest strength was observed in the samples after application of the plate without spraying and the pin with spraying of hydroxyapatite doped with silver (4 weeks), and the pin without spraying (8 weeks after implantation). The processes of integration of implants with spraying on their surface of the biocomposite with the surrounding bone were determined by electron microscopy. The advantage of intramedullary and bony fixators with spraying on the surface of the material based on bioactive glass, compared to osteosynthesis, where no spraying on the surface of the clamps of ceramic material, due to the ability to withstand higher loads with stable fixation. This may be the basis for the choice of osteosynthesis in patients with pathological fractures of the proximal tibia in this group of patients. At the electron microscopic level, the integration of sprayed implants on the surface of the biocomposite with the surrounding bone was confirmed.

NEPHROPATHY IN EARLY RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS PATIENTS: DOES A SIGNIFICANT RISK EXIST?

Objective of the study layed in assessment of the pathophysiological relation between cell-mediated immunity (tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) inflammatory cytokine) activation and renal dysfunction in the patients with early rheumatoid arthritis. We analyzed the data from 35 early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients of average age of 50,71±2,25 years (ranged 18-76 years, 80% of women) with 9,21±0,43 months mean duration of the disease by the time of the study initiation. Urine and blood tests were performed to verify the main indicators of kidney function and inflammation cytokines significant interaction. All signs of renal dysfunction at the baseline in the patients with early RA were associated with glomerular filtration rate decrease and excretion of urine protein increase. Dynamics of albuminuria, according to the analysis of variance for one-factor scheme, were significantly determined by the state of disease activity, reflecting the severity of joint damage. High urine ß-2-microglobulin level was significantly associated with the expression rate of main inflammatory cytokines as per binary regression analysis. The obtained dependence showed the dynamics of expression of tubular disorders in early RA with a progressive deterioration which did associate with the levels of TNF-α expression, and variety of the urine miсroglobulin rates in the interval 200-350 µg/L. Reliable correlation (r=0.51, p<0.05) between beta-2-microglobulinuria and TNF-α levels was clearly shown, revealing the relationship described by the formula MGU=- 81+937×log10 (TNF-α) as per regression analysis. The severity of tubular damage in early RA is associated with TNF-α expression, especially in the patients with TNF-α above 250 pg/mL, when microalbuminuria rates were significantly higher (p=0.00043). We identified robust data that in the early RA patients with high TNF-α, the number of reported cases of microalbuminuria was significantly higher than in those with low levels.

DNA damage in tumor cells and peripheral blood lymphocytes of endometrial cancer patients assessed by the comet assay.

To date, genome instability is considered to be a common feature not only of tumor cells, but also of non-malignant cells of cancer patients, including peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs). The issue of the association between genome instability in tumor cells and PBLs, as well as of its relationship with tumor progression remains poorly understood. AIM: To evaluate the level DNA damage in tumor cells and PBLs of endometrial cancer (EC) patients with regard to clinical and morphological characteristics of the patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: DNA damage was assessed in 106 PBLs samples and 42 samples of tumor cell suspension from EC patients by comet assay. PBLs from 30 healthy women were used as control. The level of DNA damage was expressed as the percentage of DNA in the comet tails (% tail DNA). RESULTS: It was revealed that the amount of DNA damage in PBLs of EC patients was 2.2 times higher in comparison with that of healthy donors (8.3 ± 0.7 and 3.7 ± 0.4% tail DNA, respectively) (p < 0.05). In this study, no association between the levels of DNA damage in endometrial tumor cells and PBLs was observed (r = 0.11; p > 0.05). The amounts of DNA damage both in tumor cells and PBLs were not related to the degree of tumor differentiation as well as the depth of myometrial invasion, but depended on the body mass index (BMI) of EC patients: high level of lesions was observed in patients with elevated BMI values. Furthermore, the level of DNA damage in tumor cells was associated to familial aggregation of cancer and was significantly higher in endometrial cells from patients with family history of cancer vs that from EC patients with sporadic tumors (32.3 ± 2.9 and 22.8 ± 1.8% tail DNA, respectively) (p < 0.05). It was also found that for women who had high level of DNA damage in PBLs, the risk of EC was greater (odds ratio value of 3.5) compared to those with low level of such lesions. CONCLUSION: Genome instability that appears as an increased level of DNA damage in tumor cells and PBLs of EC patients is associated with BMI and family history of cancer and can reflect a predisposition to cancer.

[Application of cryodestruction in the treatment of the bone giant cell tumor].

In 25 patients in the Division of tumors of the support-movement apparatus the osteoplastic operations were performed, using intraoperative cryodestruction, after excision of the giant cell tumor of the bone. During the patients observation follow-up postoperative complications, recurrences and metastases of the tumor were not revealed.

[Results of a combined therapy of patients with metastatic bone diseases].

In the department of bone and soft tissue tumors of Institute of oncology the authors performed a combined treatment (surgery + combined chemotherapy + bisphosphonates + radiation) in 20 patients with bone metastases. Results showed that postoperative complications were observed in 2 patients, new bone lesions in 4 patients. Those satisfactory results prove the efficacy of these treatment options.

[Biocomposit--a new material for the bone restoration].

The results of application in 15 patients of a new implantation material biocomposit for the bone defects substitution, which constituted the consequences of the giant-cell tumor extirpation, are adduced. In all the patients the restoration of the extremity function and supportive ability have been succeeded.

[Metaloosteosynthesis in the pathological fracture of the bone with benign and malignant tumors]. / Metalloosteosintez pri patologicheskom perelome kosti na fone dobrokachestvennoi i zlokachestvennoi ee opukholi.

Metaloosteosynthesis of pathological fractures of bone on the background of bone tumors was carried out in 56 patients in the department of tumors of locomotion system. The good results of the treatment were obtained. In 42% of the cases it was possible to reconstruct the function of extremities. 53% of patients succeeded to avoid amputation or exarticulation of an extremity.

[Modern methods of diagnosis of giant-cell tumor of bone]. / Sovremennye metody diagnostiki gigantokletochnoi opukholi kosti.

As many as 170 patients with giant cell tumour of the bone were examined in the Institute of Oncology department of tumours of the locomotorium. The diagnosis of giant cell tumour of the bone was made with a comprehensive approach to the patients pursued to include roentgenography, computerized tomography, biopsy involving histological study of the specimens taken.

[Clinical manifestations of giant cell tumor of bone]. / Klinicheskie proiavleniia gigantokletochnoi opukholi kosti.

Over the period of past five years, in the department of tumours of the locomotorium of the Institute of Oncology, 170 patients with giant cell tumor of the bone who ranged from 7 to 72 years old were examined. Of these, 152 patients were cured, 14 experienced recurrences of the tumour after the treatments administered, four patients died within different time periods after the treatment conducted as a result of metastizing of the tumour into different organs and systems (lungs, liver, bony skeleton).

[Differential diagnosis of giant cell tumors]. / Differentsial'naia diagnostika gigantokletochnoi opukholi.

The article shows differential diagnosis of giant sell tumor of bone with bone cystae, displasia fibrosis, chondroblastoma, osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, plasmocitoma, enchondroma and bone metastases. The main methods of diagnosis is morphological investigation of biopsy material.

[Use of local magnitothermia in the treatment of patients with primary-confined skin melanoma]. / Opyt primeneniia lokal'noi magnitotermii pri lechenii bol'nykh s pervichno-ogranichennoi melanomoi kozhi.

We studied modifying potentialities of high temperatures in treatment regimens with adjuvant endolymphatic chemo- and interferontherapy of malignant melanoma of the skin. We had previously obtained enough evidence for expediency of adjuvant endolymphatic therapy of primary-localized melanoblastoma of the skin. Added to the preventive treatment regimens were sessions of local magnetothermia. The study was done in patients diagnosed as having primary-localized melanoma of the skin T(2-4) No Mo. A 3-year recurrence-free survival in the control group was (38.2 +/- 1.6)%, in the first study group--(54.2 +/- 5.8)%, in the second study group--(44.3 +/- 13.5)%. The general 3-year survival in the control group was (67.7 +/- 1.5)%, in the first study group--(70.8 +/- 5.5)%, in the second one--(91.7 +/- 5.7)%. In this way, the expediency has been proved of employment of local magnetothermia in treatment regimens to deal with malignant melanoma of the skin.

[Long-term results of treatment of patients with bone tumors using hydroxyapatite and calcium phosphate ceramic implants]. / Viddaleni rezul'taty likuvannia khvorykh z pukhlynamy kistok z vikorystanniam keramichnykh implantativ na osnovi gidroksylapatytu ta trykal'tsiifosfatu.

On the basis of experimental-and-clinical investigations it has been found out that the home-produced hydroxylapatite (HA)- and tricalciumphosphate(TCP)-based ceramic material is capable owing to specificities of its chemical structure and osteoinductive action of stimulating the reparative osteogenesis and is accompanied by angiogenesis. No ill effects have been noted in its use in bone plastic surgery. An apparent clinical effect has been shown to occur in postsurgical patients (n = 120) presenting with giant cell tumour, benign tumours and tumour-like affections of the bones, with the expediency having been ascertained of employment of the HA- and TCP-base ceramic material in the treatment of the above patients. The use of the above materials implants versus allotransplants promotes decline in the percentage of complications (1.66 vs 27.2), shortening of time of medical rehabilitation of patients by two to three months as compared to allotransplantation as well as hospital stay duration (by 10 to 12 days).

[Experimental studies on the effect of ceramic materials on cellular and humoral immunity]. / Eksperymental'ni doslidzhennia vplyvu keramichnogo materialu na reaktsiï klitynnogo ta gumoral'nogo imunitetu.

It has been established in an experimental setting in laboratory animals through testing a number of reactions such as active skin anaphylaxis reaction, mast cell degranulation reaction, specific leucocyte lysis reaction, delayed hypersensitivity reaction, and graft-versus-host reaction that ceramic preparations hydroxilapatite M and osteogel-7 have no sensitizing effects; osteogel-7 is not endowed with immunomodulating activity, which fact suggests to us its immunological inertness.

[Hospital infection and rational antibacterial therapy in conduction of operative interventions in cardiac surgery]. / Gospital'naia infektsiia i ratsional'naia antibakterial'naia terapiia pri vypolnenii operativnykh vmeshatel'stv v kardiokhirurgii.

The results of bacteriological monitoring in intensive care units of ICVS AMS of Ukraine, specializing on the treatment of patients after conduction of operation on "open heart", were analyzed. In 1998-2001 yrs the S. Epidermidis and Enterobacter strains had constituted the most frequent causes of septic state in patients. Experience of application of different antibacterial preparations was summarized, the main principles of their administration were formulated. Modern approaches to the treatment and prophylaxis of purulent-septic complications were depicted.

[The use of ceramics in osteoplastic operations in onco-orthopedics]. / Primenenie keramiki pri kostno-plasticheskikh operatsiiakh v onkoortopedii.

Hydroxilapatite-base ceramics was made use of in 70 cases in bone-plastic operations as a material to substitute bone defects following excision of osteal neoplasms. In all cases, the ceramic material was made contact with the bone bed. There were no ceramics-related adverse local or generalized reactions. Zones of a ceramics-to-bone contacts showed consolidation in 68 cases for up to 3 months as per X-ray techniques. No bone fracture was to be seen in the site of implantation or a fragmentation of the ceramic material employed. Based on the results obtained, the hydroxilapatite-base ceramics can be made use of as an alternative to auto- and allotransplants.

[Patient medical rehabilitation following osteoplastic operations using hydroxylapatite-based porous ceramic]. / Meditsinskaia reabilitatsiia bol'nykh posle kostnoplasticheskikh operatsii s ispol'zovaniem poristoi keramiki na osnove gidroksilapatita.

At the URIOP Department of Tumours of the Locomotor System, osseous plastic operations were performed with making use of hydroxilapatite-base porous ceramics in 60 patients with benign tumours of bone and tumour-like lesions of bone. Apart from surgery the patients underwent a complex of rehabilitative measures, such as remedial gymnastics, massage, designed to restore locomotor functions of the extremity. Time periods of medical rehabilitation of patients were found to have gotten reduced by 1 to 2 months on the average providing the multimodality treatments with remedial gymnastics and massage were administered.